Balotelli gun photo irks AC Milan

MILAN -- AC Milan are not amused by Mario Balotelli's use of a gun on social media.

After facing more criticism than most players for Italy's first-round exit from the World Cup, and subjected to racist abuse throughout his career, Balotelli posted a photo on Instagram early Friday featuring him pointing a large gun at the camera.

The post was accompanied by a message: "big kiss to all the haters."

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said: "I have my own ideas about social networks and I've tried many times [to control players' use of it] but our lawyer has always stopped me, saying that it would violate individual rights."

Galliani added: "In contracts it's written what players can and cannot do, but we can't do anything regarding their private lives. We do it vocally but that's not enough."